The Last Mile, Powered By Partners
Regional, sector, and research collaborations that deliver completion and hiring results.
We know lasting change takes collective effort. Last Mile is part of a growing movement to rethink how higher education supports students. We sit at the intersection of education, workforce development, and economic mobility. We welcome partnerships with nonprofits, workforce boards, community-based organizations, funders, researchers, policymakers, and anyone ready to amplify student success and dismantle systemic barriers.
Our goal: systemic transformation of how higher-education funding and support systems work in critical tech and innovation fields.
System Change Starts in the Last Mile
Last Mile Education Fund is a necessary part of this journey for many students. Where we think about potential and opportunity, the financial aspect shouldn’t be a blocker, and so many students get to a point and then don’t know how to get towards that last mile.
Dwana Franklin-Davis
CEO, Reboot Representation
Why Partner With Last Mile
Fast, flexible capital where it matters most. We step in during the final stretch of a STEM degree—when a small, urgent cost can derail years of effort. Our model pairs rapid-response grants with transparent reporting and an equity-first approach designed for first-gen and financially vulnerable students.
Proven outcomes. Students we support graduate at 80%, with an average award under $3,000—small dollars, outsized impact.
High social ROI. $1 → $246 in social return through graduates’ lifetime earnings, tax contributions, and reduced reliance on social services.
Built for speed. Decisions in days, not months, with student-centered verification that minimizes administrative burden.
Ecosystem mindset. We connect employers with education partners and community allies to advance tech talent—and we team with organizations dedicated to persistence, completion, and equity so every student has a fair shot from classroom to career.
Who We Partner With
Nonprofits & Community-Based Organizations: Strengthen local completion and career pathways; co-create referral and wraparound support.
Workforce & Economic Development Boards: Convert near-graduates into ready-to-hire talent; co-design sector pipelines.
Higher Education & Faculty Networks: Add a rapid-aid safety net to retention/completion strategies; share aggregate insights.
Employers & Industry Associations: Build inclusive, job-ready talent pools aligned to regional hiring needs.
Philanthropy & Corporate Funders: Launch regional, statewide, or sector-specific funds with measurable returns.
Researchers & Policy Leaders: Generate evidence that informs practice and policy; advance reforms that scale what works.
Partnership Paths
Choose one—or combine several—to fit your mission and region.
Regional & Statewide Funds: Create a named fund focused on your geography. We deploy rapid awards, track outcomes, and deliver aggregate, anonymized reporting to inform local strategies.
Sector & Employer Pipelines: Stand up industry-aligned funds (e.g., cybersecurity, AI/data, semiconductor, clean energy). We remove last-mile financial barriers while you provide internships, mentors, and hiring pathways.
Referral & Wraparound Networks: Embed Last Mile into advising resource flows. We handle urgent costs; partners provide coaching, tutoring, or other completion and career development support.
Research & Evidence Collaboratives: Co-develop studies that match qualitative narratives with quantitative outcomes. We prioritize privacy by design and share insights that inform practice and policy.
Policy & Systems Change: Join coalitions advocating for modernized financial-aid practices, scholarship displacement protections, and flexible emergency support at scale.
Impact
How We Work
Simple, Fast, Accountable
Define scope (region, sector, or student population) and success metrics. Stand up a fund and referral pathways.
Deploy rapid awards via student-friendly, mobile forms; decisions in days.
Measure what matters (enrollment persistence, on-time completion, early career outcomes).
Story & Signal: Human stories that complement the data—evidence your stakeholders can feel and fund.
What We Track
Impact Snapshot
Student momentum: continued enrollment, on-time completion
Barrier removal: type, cost, timing, and resolution speed
Career readiness: internships, industry certifications, licensure fees covered
Workforce outcomes: early placements in tech/engineering roles (where available)
Reporting lens: aggregate outcomes by first-gen status, income bracket, transfer pathway, and region
What You Can Use
Partner Toolkit
One-page overview for stakeholders
Slides for board/committee briefings
Sample MOUs and data-sharing language
Referral copy for websites, LMS, and advising tools
Social assets and newsletter blurbs
Research & policy brief templates
Our ecosystem partners extend the reach and depth of Last Mile’s mission. Through collaboration with educators, employers, and community organizations, they help us identify students in need, create pathways to opportunity, and ensure that graduation leads to lasting impact.
Ecosystem Partners
Ready to Partner?
Let’s align your mission with Last Mile impact.